Qatar’s World Cup ambassador confirms homosexuality is a ‘sin’ and ‘mental deviance’.
The World Cup is just two weeks away in Qatar, a dictatorship that does not respect human rights, with laws that discriminate against women and LGBTQ groups. Despite FIFA’s warm gestures to avoid possible discrimination during the month-long event, the emirate is trying to protect its traditions. In an interview given on the German network ZDFWorld Cup ambassador Khalid Salman said homosexuality is a “mental illness” and, moreover, haram (a sin, something forbidden or illegal) under the strict interpretation of Islamic law that governs the country.
“Many people are going to come to the country during the World Cup. Let’s talk about homosexuals, for example. Most importantly, everyone will agree to come here. But they will have to accept our rules,” says Salman. What are these rules? “[La homosexualidad] This is haraam”, says the former football player and appointment ambassador. “You know what it means Haram? he asks the journalist. “I am not a strict Muslim. But why is it? Haram? Because there is harm in the mind,” he concludes. In the documentary, which is posted on the channel’s website, journalist Jochen Breyer tells that at that moment of the conversation, the person from the organization of the World Cup stopped the interview.
Qatari law punishes consensual same-sex sex with up to ten years in prison. The current penal code also provides for one to three years in prison for those who “force” or “persuade” other people to commit acts of “sodomy or lewdness.”
Penalties are even harsher for Muslims, who can only face the death penalty for having sex outside of marriage; And much worse especially for women who claim that even rape can be punished for consensual sex outside of marriage.
For all this, the preparation of the World Cup not only caused huge criticism in the general public but between different playersFor example, Harry Kane, the captain of the England national team, or Australian Josh Cavallo, the first active football player who openly announced himself as gay. He said a few months ago that he was afraid to play in Qatar for its homophobic legislation.
For this reason, several teams in the tournament have expressed their willingness to wear rainbow armbands in response to the criminalization of LGTBI people in the emirate. The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland, Wales and England have said they will wear the symbol even if the gesture is sanctioned. FIFA has yet to make clear whether it will punish its coaches, even though it has been a month since the request for permission.
Asked about Cavallo’s statements a year ago, organizing committee president Nasser Al Khater assured that “everyone is welcome.” in statements CNNAl Khater said they “welcome him” and that “no one” feels “threatened” or “unsafe” in Qatar. He realized that the player had this perception “after reading these allegations [de que Qatar no es seguro para el colectivo LGTBI] Or reading this news that casts a negative light.”
Al Khater described the country as “tolerant”, “welcoming” and “hospitable”, but later said that “public displays of affection are widely abused”. The leader said his country is “modest” and asked fans traveling to the World Cup to “respect” that the country is “very conservative”. “We respect different cultures and we hope that other cultures respect ours,” he added. He acknowledged that same-sex marriage is illegal “as it is in many other countries.”
Source: El Diario
Leave a Reply